Thursday, January 15, 2009

There is no shortage of photographs that were not properly identified by our ancestors or the photograph's owner. The following submissions to Smile show us that everyone could use a little help in identifying these people. Who Are They? We'd All Like To Know.

So, put on your detective glasses, open the cover and browse the 9th Edition of Smile For The Camera's album of unknowns!

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Wendy Littrell of All My Branches Genealogy introduces us to an unknown little boy in Who Are You (Tell Me - Who Are You)? Follow Wendy as she narrows down the possibilities as to who this little boy in the photograph with her grandfather could be. Perhaps the answer is staring right back at her in some other photos that she owns. Complete with an introduction by "The Who".

Lee Drew has a Most Wanted page at Famhist. What a great idea! Lee has boxes of old photos of unknown people that were inherited. A common problem for any genealogist. Some of the photos are posted at the bottom of the Most Wanted page at Most Wanted: Famhist.

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Sheri Fenley presents Three Unknowns posted at The Educated Genealogist. Sheri tells us, "In my entire collection of family photos, I have only three that are UFP's (unidentified family photos). Maybe they belong to your family? " Only three?

Apple presents Nameless Faces posted at Apple's Tree. "I admit it, Apple says. "I cheated on this one as these pictures have all been featured in the past. But I really would love to know who they are and I hope that by moving them out of my archive I may make a connection." Not cheating! It's called recycling - you're a Green Apple!

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Julie Cahill Tarr presents Only 4 Elusive Photos Remain posted at GenBlog. After a holiday visit with family, Julie is left with only FOUR unknowns. Only four? But they are difficult ones, babies and children - take a look.

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Amanda Erickson presents Who are you? posted at Random Ramblings. The identification of one out of eight people provides a clue, but can you identify that chicken? It was important enough to someone to get it in that photograph.

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Taylorstales presents Who Are You? posted at Taylorstales-Genealogy. An ethnic wedding dress with few clues. A search for C. F. Kersting, the Chicago Photographer on the cabinet card, found he operated at 488 Milwaukee during the year 1893. It appears this was the only year Kersting operated a photographic studio on his own. This should narrow your time frame. I'd love to see the reverse of this card.

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Dru Pair presents Granddaddy’s People posted at Find Your Folks. This picture has been in the photo album of Dru's maternal grandparents ever since she can remember. Dru wants to know who the people are in the photo that belonged to her maternal grandfather. We hope you find the answer!

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Lidian presents The Virtual Dime Museum: The Instant Ancestor posted at The Virtual Dime Museum. An instant ancestor for our Victorian Sleuth. Lidian's subject is wearing a beautiful dress and Lidian gives us a look at corsets and bustles of the period. The photographer of this cabinet card could be a clue to its date. He may be found in the Connecticut Historical Society's, “The Connecticut Yankee and the Camera: 1839-1889” by William F. Robinson, which contains an Index of Connecticut Photographers; alphabetic and by town.

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Cherie Atkinson Clark presents Smile for the Camera: Who are you? posted at Still Digging for Roots. Two photos found among my grandparents' possessions, Cherie tells us. Cherie's first photograph is a Victorian interior and it is loaded with clues. Fashion, many photographs within the photograph, an organ, and a piano. What a photograph! This one could be a lot of fun!

Sheri Bush is calling all cousins for the Brock Photo Mystery posted at TwigTalk. Sheri needs help identifying the two seated adults in this photograph. Just one question. Was Francis Marion Brock a lot older than his wife Irene? This man looks much more in the age range of the seated woman. Also the woman standing and the woman seated have very similar cheeks. Mother & daughter?

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Do you know Jack? John Newmark hopes you do. A 1919 summer romance, perhaps marriage? John would like to find Jack, posted at TransylvanianDutch. This one will take a lot of research unless YOU have the answer. Take a look, we all want to know.

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Paula Ausmus Moore gives us a glimpse of her favorite semi-hidden mother photograph. My favorite photo posted at A Passage in time. These little boys come from the McKell family from Spanish Fork, Utah. Who they are Paula doesn't know for sure. They look well dressed and well mannered as does their faithful dog.

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Kathy Brady-Blake, gives us another clue to Who are you Baby Raymond? at Kathy's Genealogy Blog. We now know that Baby Raymond came to the Shriner's Hospital in Chicago from North Dakota. Kathy really wants this one solved. Stop by and see if you can help.

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Linda Stienstra (From Axer to Ziegler) has a photograph of twelve unidentified people at I Think They Belong ~ I Just Don?t Know How!! She also had a good list of questions. Why the tablecloths? If it was a traveling photographer they sometimes hung them as a backdrop. Or perhaps they covered the glare from windows. We can only speculate. Linda, is there an embossed stamp on the back of the card mount?

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Donna Pointkouski wants to know Who are These Guys? (And Where are They Going?) posted at What's Past is Prologue. Yes, Donna, that's exactly how I would start. Some other clues - gas lamps used in conjunction with headlights; the end of the use of the word Livery in place of garage. All can be found. Looks like pretty desolate territory. Is there a clue there?

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Tex presents Who Are You? I Really Want to Know! posted at All My Ancestors. I was very taken with these gentlemen the first time I laid eyes on them and with the addition of the second photograph they have become twice as interesting. Both photographs appear to have the same background, but I agree two different side kicks. The furniture and floor does not look like that of a studio photographer, even in Texas, so you may be looking at a traveling photographer.

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Lester Larrabee of the "Bits and Pieces" Blog has a very intriguing photograph he's submitting to Smile called "I wish you could speak." His photograph contains a clue on the reverse of the card mount. An embossed trade mark. A clue I am now chasing, as it may solve more than one mystery for me. Thanks Les for all the assistance. We may actually find a date range for this photograph.

Susan Edminster presents Aunt Ura Who are You? I really want to know! Aunt Ura, a beautiful portrait of a very dignified woman. Don't you love it when our ancestors make an identification, but one only they can understand? See what a fine mess Sue's identification has gotten her into at The Family File.

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Tim Agazio presents Who is This Guy? Tim's not so sure he'd like to claim a relationship with this young man, but I can't resist a man in a tie. The flag looks as if it was being used as a backdrop. The question I'd like answered is "What was the occasion." Tim asks "who are these people" often at Genealogy Reviews Online. Drop by and see what you can come up with.

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Amy Coffin shows us a lovely photograph, Who Are You? 9th Edition of Smile for the Camera, posted at We Tree. "This wedding party photo captured a happy time in the subjects' lives. Why does it make me so sad," Amy asks? Could it be the lack of identification? Everyone in this picture has polished their shoes. Even those shoes that had some wear. There's real pride in this photograph. Got any suggestions for finding out who these people might be? Let's cheer Amy up!

Jasia posts Who is This Couple?, a wedding photograph with one of the most beautiful yet simple bouquets I've seen in a photograph this old, at Creative Gene. The photographer Sowinski came from Poland and lived and worked in Detroit for 66 years. His clients were mostly from the Polish community of Detroit. 66 years doesn't help narrow the time period, but if you could match his imprint to a specific year that could narrow the search. Jasia, you're an expert at directories and that's the first place I'd start. Good luck!

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Janice Tracy of Attala County Memories has a postcard of "Five Men from Helena Arkansas" and would like to know just how they fit into her family. Janice, do you know that the back of the postcard can be dated even without a stamp or postmark? It could narrow the time span. Was Vertie in Helena, Arkansas, and are you certain the notation meant the men were from there?

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Craig Manson, GeneaBloggie, has found the photograph of a handsome young man he can't place titled "Who Is This Man?" It was with many other photographs depicting members of the Micheau family of Prairie du Rocher and Sparta, Illinois. Craig, just below the oval on the right side and at an angle, is that the name of a photographer? It looks like Dunker Studio, but I can't quite make it out. Can you? Or am I just seeing things?

Lorine McGinnis Schulze of Olive Tree Genealogy asks the question, Are You My Grandfather? Lorine believes she can identify two of four men and a boy pictured in the photograph. But like us all, she wants to know for sure. Does anyone recognize these three individuals? Can you help?

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Msteri presents Who Are You? posted at Heritage Happens.... This photograph is posed in the typical family arrangement. Mother and father sitting with two daughters standing. Photographs such as these commemorated an event, perhaps Della coming to visit before her confinement. Is that the name of the photographer at the bottom of the photograph. If it is, it's always a good place to start.

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Kathryn Lake Hogan presents us with a charming photograph of six beautiful little girls and asks Who Are You? I Really Wanna Know! posted at LOOKING4ANCESTORS. Kathryn asks all the correct questions in dating her photograph. The photographer H. S. Eades, 91, Wednesbury Road, Walsall can be found conducting business in the Staffordshire, England, Directory of 1912. Your date may be correct, Kathryn.

Janet Iles, Janet The Researcher, really wants to know who came to the Quilting Bee at the Love farm on 8 August 1908? This is one of those Edwardian women in white photographs. So many unidentified women, what a shame. You have a great clue Janet, what was the local newspaper for this area? They often reported Quilting Bees and those that attended.

Holly Timm, of genealogy musings, has a very tough, who are you... photograph. A handsome well dressed young man in a box of papers written in German. There is absolutely no idea as to who he might be. How did his photograph get in the box, did he really come from Iowa? Your help is needed on this one. All suggestions appreciated.

Becky Wiseman, of kinexxions, submits Little Darlings! Who are you? to Smile. Becky has a dating problem where she used the newspapers to find answers, but not in the conventional manner. Check out those little darlings in the newspapers. The clues are everywhere!

Stephen J. Danko wants to know Are You My Mother? posted at Steve's Genealogy Blog. So much information, so little help. A name, a name, couldn't they just have added a name? I think the girl does look like your Mother, Steve.

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Lisa says "I wish I’d been invited to this wedding… at 100 Years in America and gives us a bonus, The Cowhey clan circa 1940s: Who’s who? at Small-leaved Shamrock. Leave it to Lisa to invite us to a wedding celebration where everyone looks like they're having a great time, except the bride. And the Cowhey's knew how to gather for a photograph, but who are they. If you have a connection or recognize anyone please contact Lisa. A connection, wouldn't it be wonderful.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this fantastic 9th Edition of Smile For The Camera and welcome to all the first-time contributors. It is evident from each and every article that a great deal of time, effort, love, research and logical thinking went into each photographic contribution. As Randy would say, please take a moment to stop and comment and show your appreciation!

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Now The Call For Submissions!

10th EDITION

Smile For The Camera10 February 2009

The word prompt for the 10th Edition of Smile For The Camerais Costume? No, not as in Halloween. Costume as in dress in general; especially the distinctive style of dress of a people, class, or period. Show us that picture that you found with your family collection or purchased that shows the costumes of the rich to the not so rich, from the civil war to the psychedelic sixties. I know you have them, so share. Admission is free with every photograph!

Your submission may include as many or as few words as you feel are necessary to describe your treasured photograph. Those words may be in the form of an expressive comment, a quote, a journal entry, a poem (your own or a favorite), a scrapbook page, or a heartfelt article. The choice is yours!

Deadline for submission is midnight (PT)10 February 2009Posted - 15 February 2009

HOW TO SUBMIT:

There are two options:

1. Send an email to the host, footnoteMaven. Include the title and permalink URL of the post you are submitting, your name, and the name of your blog. Put 'Smile For The Camera' clearly in the title of your email!

Guest Authors

Write The Editor

About Shades Of The Departed

I have been collecting photographs for over twenty years. This blog will discuss that collection, the types of categories I've developed for that collection, and the types of photographs I collect.
I will also share with you what I've learned or am learning about scanning, creating a database, analyzing and dating my collection, and anything else that strikes my fancy related to photography and my collection.

About The Collector

I am fascinated by the clues left in the photographs I collect. Every picture is a miniature mystery and I love a mystery.

My grandfather was a photographer who traveled with the famous Burton Holmes. I am fortunate to have original photographs by
both men.

When I was ten my grandfather gave me a camera as a birthday gift. It was evident that I did not inherit the "photographer gene."
I have taken only one photograph in my entire life that I liked, but I know a good one when I see it.

I am a great appreciator.

Fortunately, I don't take myself too seriously. I know enough about
collecting photographs to know I don't know everything, but I am learning.